We know, we know. We’ll say it before you do. Breastfeeding provides your baby with all the best nutrients—nutrients that formula can’t possibly mimic. It’s a bonding experience with your baby. It gives your baby immunities that will last his or her whole life.
But before you judge us, remember that it takes a strong (and brave) woman to put it out there and say what we’re about to.
Blah, blah, blah.
At the risk of ticking off the entire La Leche League and scores of Dr. Sears attachment parenting advocates, we’re going to say it out loud:
My (Summer’s) experience with breastfeeding was a painful one. Painful in my ever-growing boobs (can you say size G for GIGANTIC?), and even more painful in my heart.
Oh yes, I said it.
But hear me out. Once you hear the dramatic tale, you will want to rub my back and buy me dinner. Even you, La Leche Leaguers!
My dear boy was a hungry one.
So, I did what every new mom does. I took it to the guru of all gurus. The lovely Eve, Queen of all Lactation Consultants. I was told by many that she was the “OZ” of the breastfeeding world. She was the one with the answers.
About five minutes into my consultation, she asked me to whip it out and show her what I had been doing. As I ever so slowly revealed my dangling nipple, I heard a gasp.
“My dear, never ever nurse on those things again.”
It was all I needed to hear.
What came next was music to my ears:
Oh yes, it was bad. But I had been so determined to make it work that I was willing (crazy?) to lose a nipple in the meantime.
Also, one thing to know about a dangling nipple: it causes infection.
Nipple loss + mastitis = post partum depression
But I managed to marry my pump for better or worse for another three months (breast is best!), until I came to the resolve that I had done all I could.
I said to “F” with it.
Betsy, take it away.
{to read the rest of this article…..Betsy’s always hilarious take on things, here is your link!}
© 2009 “Le Musings of Moi”
Funny… I will have to go read her post!
my sister said it hurts a lot and i have heard her cuss from it too… OUCH!
Haha that’s a good post. I remember DREADING breastfeeding because that first latch was so excruciating I thought I would die. Oh wait, not the FIRST latch, the entire breast feeding session. Then on top of the insane nipple pain, was the insane let down pain… it just NEVER ended.
It’s funny though, because when I got sick after having my third child i couldn’t breast feed. Guess who was crying like a little baby? No, not my son – ME! Apparently after going through it twice I had forgotten the pain of it all and got Post Partum Depression because I couldn’t.
You win some, you lose some!
Love this post!
I think it sucks that people are so against bottle feeding. My mom couldn’t breast feed with me or my brother and we turned out totally normal. I’ve already decided that when I have kids I don’t want to breastfeed because my boobs are so big and already causing back problems that I don’t want that to get worse. I plan on working again after having kids (someday, like 5 years from now) and I don’t want to have to pump in some dirty bathroom!
I think that more people should be considerate to the fact that breast feeding is a choice, just like everything else and that some people just can’t or don’t want to do it!
ha, ha…that is too funny! I nursed with both mine and experienced a little of your story the last go round…it was PAINFUL…and yes, mastitis three times!!!
I am right there with you. I too am a horrible mom who gave my babies formula.
I nursed both of my boys for small amounts of time: Tristan for 2 weeks (followed by pumping as long as I could) and Isaac for 3 days. Tristan just wouldn’t latch, I was so scared he wasn’t getting anything to eat. I was too stressed out. Isaac did great in the hospital but when we got home, he sucked (and not in the good way) and Tristan wouldn’t look at or listen to me (I think he was embarassed) but I have never had anyone say anything bad to me about not nursing. And they can suck it if they ever do because I did what was best for us.
You are preaching to the choir about being busy.
Thanks for the post. It’s nice to see the other side of breastfeeding. I’m still undecided and have noticed since the beginning of my pregnancy that people will make you feel like you’re abusing your child if you decide against breastfeeding for personal reasons. It’s refreshing to see the painful side of it. Kudos to you for continuing to try even after the pain!
Would you believe that even after bottle feeding Owen, and being Okay with that, I still agonize over whether or not I should try BF with this new baby. UGH…there need to be more bottle feeding support groups out there!
This makes me feel better about not breastfeeding either of my kids. I just didn’t have any desire to.
I am a BFer. my 10 months old is still breast feeding and I cannot wait to stop.
I love being able to BF..but honestly..I miss my Victoria secret bras..I miss smelling like perfume instead of Breast Milk. I miss my Perky, sexy boobies and my pink Nipples. TMI..I know. I don’t regret doing it, but I can’t wait to stop.
I COMPLETELY agree with you! I have breastfed both of my boys (currently still nursing my second), but not as long as most of the finger pointers recommend. I only made it to 3 or 4 months with my first and I am on month 4 with my second son. I am going to try to make it to 6 months.
You are not lying about the pain either. It is completely awful in the beginning and I honestly thought both times about stopping. The bleeding, soreness, tenderness and engorgement…ugh I remember screaming and writhing trying not to rip him off of me b/c of the pain.
Don’t get me wrong-I love being able to breastfeed for many different reasons, but I cannot wait to stop. I hate having to plan my day thinking about where I will be when it will be time for him to eat so that I won’t be popping a boob out in public or having to feed him in the car-blah. And it may sound awful and selfish-but dammit I want a glass of wine (or 3) and a margarita!
Being a good Momma is way more than where the dang milk comes from! 😀
I don’t have kids yet, but I am surprised that “are you going to breastfeed” is an acceptable question for people to ask. I have been to a countless amount of baby showers where I have heard this question asked.
Mind your own F-ing business!
I will probably mix breastfeeding with formula. I know my family will not be happy with this, but I do not care. My body, my baby, my decision, right?
Right?
Boy have I been there. I had endless bouts with clogged ducts and mastitis. Weaning him was wonderful!
I pushed through until my son was five or six months. It took every ounce of my energy.
I felt like the F word.. and I mean FAILURE when I quit. I was hopeing to go for a few more months, but I just couldnt handle it. 🙂
My boobs and my sanity thanked me! 🙂
I LOVED this post. I completely endorse breast feeding, and I will again, but there comes a time when you do have to say F it.. 🙂 This post rocked! BRAVO
Thank you so much for this post. While I was pregnant I thought that I would breastfeed for sure. Well I did for about the first month, but it was so hard. I then decided to pump and give formula at the same time. That lasted for about another couple of weeks. Then it was formula. When I told people I was bottle feeding, they looked at me like I was evil and should be put to jail. I got used to it. Let me just say that with formula and swaddling my little guy slept through the night at 6 weeks. It made my life easier. Again, thanks for this honest post and I think everyone should make a decision that fits them the best.
Maybe I should have NOT read this post-j/k I hope I can breast feed- or atleast pump into a bottle. Please email me the must have items that has made your life as a mom easier- I need all the help I can get!
Thxs
So wait a minute… your nipple was coming off???? Holy shiz. I plan to breastfeed kiddos someday, but HELL no, not if that kinda thing can go down. OMG.
This post had me laughing so hard I almost peed myself… and I am at work, so that is awkward 😉
xoxo J
sorry i didn’t finish reading that post. my nipples were hurting too much! i don’t know if i’ll ever been blessed with kids but honnestly the whole pregnancy thing freak me out SO much that i’ve never even thought of the breastfeeding part. now i’m even more freaked out!
I obviously don’t know anything about it, but I have to say it sounds like you went way beyond the call of duty trying. What more could you do?
you never fail to make me laugh!! love!